Apparatus and method for an endotracheal tube holder

Abstract

Provided is an endotracheal tube holder comprising a harness adapted to be engaged with an associated patient's head, the harness having a top, bottom, front, back, first side, and second side; an adjustable transverse band; an adjustable coronal band; a first strap elongated to define a first end engaged with the transverse band on the first side and a second end; a second strap elongated to define a first end engaged with the transverse band on the second side and a second; a set of pads having a first pad engaged to the first strap, and a second pad engaged to the second strap; and a platform having an elongated rail extending between the first pad and the second pad, a slide engaged with the rail, and a tube cradle on top of the slide, the tube cradle being adapted to engage and hold an endotracheal tube.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An endotracheal tube holder comprising:
 a flexible and moldable harness adapted to be operatively engaged with an associated head of an associated patient, the harness having
 a top, 
 a bottom opposite the top with respect to a transverse plane, a 
 front, 
 a back opposite the front with respect to a coronal plane, a 
 first side, 
 a second side opposite the first side with respect to a sagittal plane, 
 an adjustable transverse band extending in the transverse plane from the front to the back and adapted to be selectably secured around the associated head, 
 an adjustable coronal band extending in the coronal plane from the first side to the second side and adapted to be selectably secured over the associated head, a first strap elongated to define a first end of the first strap and a second end of the first strap opposite the first end of the first strap, the first end of the first strap being engaged with the transverse band on the first side, and 
 a second strap elongated to define a first end of the second strap and a second end of the second strap opposite the first end of the second strap, the first end of the second strap being engaged with the transverse band on the second side, 
   a set of pads having
 a first securing pad engaged to the first strap, and 
 a second securing pad engaged to the second strap; and a platform having 
 an elongated rail operationally engaged with and extending between the first securing pad and the second securing pad, 
 a slide operationally and slidably engaged with the rail, and 
 a tube cradle on top of and operationally engaged with the slide, the tube cradle being 
 adapted to selectably engage and hold fast an associated endotracheal tube a cap which defines an interior region adapted to encompass the associated head of the associated patient; 
 the cap being adapted to be engaged over the associated head and under the harness; 
 the cap having a first side of the cap and a second side of the cap opposite the first side of the cap with respect to a sagittal plane; wherein the cap further comprises fasteners or securing attachment points adapted for operational engagement with the harness; 
   the cap further having a set of flaps; and   wherein the set of flaps have
 a first flap elongated to define a first end of the first flap and a second end the first flap opposite the first end of the first flap, 
 a second flap elongated to define a first end of the second flap and a second end the second flap opposite the first end of the second flap, 
 wherein the first end of the first flap is engaged with the first side of the cap, wherein the first end of the second flap is engaged with the second side of the cap, and 
 wherein the second end of the first flap and the second end the second flap are adapted to be selectably engageable with one another to form a chin loop adapted to be secured under a chin of the associated patient. 
   
     
     
         2 . The endotracheal tube holder of  claim 1 , wherein either the first securing pad or the second securing pad further comprises a cushion adapted to protect the associated head of the associated patient. 
     
     
         3 . The endotracheal tube holder of  claim 2 , wherein either the first securing pad or the second securing pad further comprises a band opening adapted to receive a band such as a flexible elastic band, tape or similar material. 
     
     
         4 . The endotracheal tube holder of  claim 3 , wherein the harness is of sufficient area to distribute a holding force over the associated head of the associated patient without harm or discomfort, wherein the holding force sufficient to hold an associated endotracheal tube in place during ordinary patient motion and rotations. 
     
     
         5 . A method of using endotracheal tube holder
 comprising: providing an endotracheal tube;   providing an associated patient having a head, the head having a
 top, 
 a front having a mouth, a first cheek, a second cheek, and a chin, a 
 back opposite the front with respect to a coronal plane, 
 a first side, and 
 a second side opposite the first side with respect to a sagittal plane and 
 a transverse plane mutually orthogonal to both the coronal plane and the sagittal plane; 
   providing an endotracheal tube holder having a flexible and moldable harness adapted to be operatively engaged with the head, the harness having
 an adjustable transverse band extending in the transverse plane from the front to the back and adapted to be selectably secured around the head; an adjustable coronal band extending in the coronal plane from the first side to the second side and adapted to be selectably secured over the head; 
 a first strap elongated to define a first end of the first strap and a second end of the first strap opposite the first end of the first strap, the first end of the first strap being engaged with the transverse band on the first side; 
 a second strap elongated to define a first end of the second strap and a second end of the second strap opposite the first end of the second strap, the first end of the second strap being engaged with the transverse band on the second side; 
 a set of pads having
 a first securing pad engaged to the first strap, and 
 a second securing pad engaged to the second strap; and 
 
 a platform having
 an elongated rail operationally engaged with and extending between the first securing pad and the second securing pad, a slide operationally and slidably engaged with the rail, and 
 a tube cradle on top of and operationally engaged with the slide, the tube cradle being adapted to selectably engage and hold fast the endotracheal tube; 
 
   providing a cap which defines an interior region adapted to encompass the head of the associated patient;
 the cap being adapted to be engaged over the head and under the harness; the 
 cap further having a set of flaps; 
 wherein the cap further comprises fasteners or securing attachment points adapted for operational engagement with the harness; and 
 wherein the set of flaps have
 a first flap elongated to define a first end of the first flap and a second end the first flap opposite the first end of the first flap, 
 a second flap elongated to define a first end of the second flap and a second end the second flap opposite the first end of the second flap, 
 wherein the first end of the first flap is engaged with the first side of the cap, 
 wherein the first end of the second flap is engaged with the second side of the cap, and 
 wherein the second end of the first flap and the second end the second flap are adapted to be selectably 
 engageable with one another to form a chin loop adapted 
 to be secured under a chin of the associated patient; 
 
   engaging the cap over the head and under the harness;   inserting the endotracheal tube into the mouth of the patient; operatively   engaging the harness with the head;   securing the transverse band around the head; securing   the coronal band over the head; and engaging the   endotracheal tube with the tube cradle.   
     
     
         6 . The method of using endotracheal tube holder of  claim 5 , wherein either the first securing pad or the second securing pad further comprises a cushion adapted to protect the associated head of the associated patient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of using endotracheal tube holder of  claim 6 , wherein either the first securing pad or the second securing pad further comprises a band opening adapted to receive a band such as a flexible elastic band, tape or similar material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of using endotracheal tube holder of  claim 7 , wherein the harness is of sufficient area to distribute a holding force over the head of the associated patient without harm or discomfort, wherein the holding force sufficient to hold the endotracheal tube in place during ordinary patient motion and rotations.